"You don't negotiate with a terrorist...," said Rep. John Rogers. "We've got to use guerilla tactics and guerilla warfare to kill it."

The fountain outside the Birmingham Water Works Board building. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Democratic members of the Birmingham and Jefferson County Legislative Delegation Thursday evening pledged to fight to kill proposed bills that would expand the Birmingham Water Works Board, mandate new rules for the utility and cap board pay.

The packed conference room at the Water Works office turned into a Democratic rally accusing Republican lawmakers of trying to yank control of a valuable city asset.

At the meeting the Birmingham Water Works Board touted its "super story" of clean, affordable and efficient service that officials said should be allowed to continue.

The informational "State of the Water Works" meeting morphed into a call to political arms to defeat the proposed bills.

"We have a super story here to tell that we're not telling," said Board Chairman Jackie Robinson, who moderated the meeting. "This is going to be the beginning of a series of continuous updates of all the good things we are doing here."

The utility presented a position paper opposing all elements of bills from State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, and Rep Paul Demarco, R-Homewood.

Water Works Chairman Jackie Robinson

Eight state legislators and all nine City Council members attended the meeting along with staff members, consultants and some residents. Mayor William Bell was not at the meeting.

Neither Waggoner nor Demarco were at the meeting. No member of the Republican legislative majority attended. The partisan divide was evident as Democratic lawmakers spoke after the Water Works presentation of charts and slides that showed finances and operational efficiency.

The legislation from Waggoner and Demarco would put a cap on board member pay, mandate a two-term limit for service, and require public hearings before rate increases.

The most contentious part of the bills involves expanding the five-member board to include representatives from other counties. Currently, the entire board is appointed by the Birmingham City Council.

In its opposition paper, Water Works Board members said the system was already working efficiently and fairly for all customers.

"As the old adage goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!'" the document read. "While we are disappointed, we also recognize that we need to communicate better with our legislators so they will have a better understanding of how the board and employees are meeting the goals of the BWW on a daily basis."

State Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Rep. Paul DeMarco. (FIle)

Robinson in his presentation also noted that an overwhelming majority of customers live in Jefferson County, with 178,000 connections. Other counties follow with Shelby County, 15,000; St. Clair, 2,000; Blount County, 300 and just 30 in Walker County.

The board objected to all portions of the bill, including the cap on board pay, currently set at $285 per meeting without any limit.

"Serving as a board member of such a large utility with a budget of $165 million and more than 600 employees is analogous to serving on the board of a corporation with many customers across multiple markets," according to the position paper. "This enormous responsibility sometimes necessitates late hour site visits and many weekend hours to ensure 99 percent reliability and outstanding water quality that all BWW customers enjoy."

Board member Sherry Lewis elaborated on the responsibility of service and the hours that justified compensation.

"We do the work. I spend about 30 hours a week reading, researching and preparing," she said. "I'm proud to be serving on the board, but water is serious. That's why I read everything I get."

Robinson noted that board members in 2013 received average pay of $21,150. Officials however, did not delineate payment by board member.

Several Birmingham leaders spoke in support of the water works following the presentation. Applause was frequent throughout the meeting.

"How do we get the news to report such a wonderful presentation?" asked Councilman Steven Hoyt. "You all are doing a wonderful job."

Others called for increased public outreach to explain how the board operates.

"The water board's problem is, you do not engage the citizens," said Councilwoman Sheila Tyson. "I think it's important they know the reasons their water rates are going up."

With the room filled with Democratic legislators, State Sen. Rodger Smitherman called the proposed changes part of a larger Republican attempt to seize control of several assets.

"What you are having take place is a redistribution of the wealth," Smitherman said."Now this is just coming on home to roost with us. It's going to be a head-on war with us dealing with them."

State Rep. Mary Moore said the bill is another example of a heavy-handed regime led by the Republican majority.

"I know a lot of folks don't want to hear it, but it's the new Confederacy," Moore said, adding that Republican leaders forbid inter party communication in the State House "It's an exercise in destroying the U.S. Constitution."

Smitherman compared the looming fight to the battle for the Alamo, and no compromise is possible.

He cited last year's passage of the Alabama Accountability Act where Republicans met secretly and eventually used the rules to force the bill's passage without real debate or compromise.

"I came in here to give you the real deal," Smitherman said. "They cannot be trusted. I can go down a list of what's happened and that's what's going to happen."

Dialogue and political rhetoric became more heated as the evening progressed.

Board member Ann Florie was the lone absent member. Florie earlier said she had a conflict with another meeting.

Her absence was criticized by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, who accused Florie of conspiring with Republicans to push the water works bills.

"If she can speak to my Republican colleagues and cut deals with them, then surely you all can come here and help us explain what's going on with the Birmingham Water Works Board," Givan said.

Rogers echoed Smitherman that compromise with the Republican majority was nearly impossible. Rogers said lawmakers must take action now to kill the bills. The legislature goes into session Tuesday.

"You've got to kill it before it gets there," Rogers said. "You don't negotiate with a terrorist. You go out and try to kill that terrorist. We've got to use guerilla tactics and guerilla warfare to kill it."

Correction Note: Story updated at 7:33 a.m. 1/9/14 to correct the quote from board member Sherry Lewis. Lewis during the meeting said she spends about 30 hours a week on Water Works Board related business.